Article
Vitreomacular interface and posterior vitreomacular adhesion in exsudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD): A Spectralis-OCT-Study
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Published: | September 21, 2010 |
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Purpose: To evaluate posterior vitreomacular adhesion as a risk factor for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) the vitreoretinal interface was examined using Spectralis-OCT (Heidelberg engineering).
Methods: In a retrospective observational case series 375 consecutive eyes of 375 patients (age 51–90 years) were examined with Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography (Heidelberg engineering) and fluorescein angiography (FA). Vitreomacular adhesion was defined when the posterior hyaloid line was attached to inner retinal surface as seen in OCT. In 202 patients with exsudative AMD the incidence of posterior vitreomacular adhesion was compared to 173 control patients ( 72 with non-exsudative AMD and 101 without retinal alterations).
Results: We found posterior vitreomacular adhesion in 151 patients (40.3%). In the control group 53 patients (30.6%) showed vitreomacular adhesions compared to 98 patients (48.5%) with exsudative AMD. The difference was statistically significant (p<0,001). The location of vitreomacular adhesion was observed over the area of the CNV in 88.8% of the eyes with exsudative AMD.
Conclusions: Spectralis OCT allows a detailed examination of the vitreomacular interface. The frequency of posterior vitreomacular adhesion is significantly increased in eyes with CNV in AMD. Chronic vitreomacular traction may be a risk factor for the development of exudative AMD.